Snapchat updated its app on Tuesday to now include a feature we never realized we need so badly: the one-handed zoom.
Up until this point, when a user wanted to zoom in when taking a snap, they would have to have the thumb of one hand hold down the capture button, while the other hand's index finger and thumb pinched in and out on the screen.
While this feature may sound minor to some, it's actually pretty major, since users can now easily use the app with just one hand, giving the freedom of the other hand to do things like touch their face while zooming in and out Kylie Jenner-style when lip-synching during car rides.
To start using the one-handed zoom feature, first, users have to download the latest update of the messaging app, 9.30.0.0. Press and hold down on the capture button and use your single finger to move up and away to zoom in. Slide the finger back down toward the capture button to zoom out.
It's important to note that this is done when the user is recording a video. It doesn't seem to work when wanting to quickly zoom in when you're about to take a photo. However, users can still use the two-finger pinch to zoom in order to get closer to the object or person of desire for their still snaps.
It does make sense that this is a video-only feature, since the company recently announced that its users watch over 10 billion videos a day.
The new one-handed zoom is only available for iOS users for now, and was the only new feature added with this latest update.
However, there's a good chance that Android users will get some love, too, especially since the app has been reported to be installed more times than Twitter on Android devices.
According to the digital intelligence firm SimilarWeb, Snapchat was downloaded on 22.7 percent on Android devices in April, whereas Twitter was downloaded 21.8 percent.
The firm's report also found that users are spending more time on Snapchat, with an average of 20 minutes and 20 seconds daily, while they only spend 12 minutes and 21 seconds on Twitter. People may be less interested in scrolling through their News Feed to see random tweets and more engaged in videos of their friends and favorite celebrities on Snapchat.
Snapchat reported it has more than 100 million daily active users. Now, those on iOS will be able to start using its latest feature.
Source: Snapchat
